The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-12

which dinner was anAounced-a dinner
which was like bit vi Wonderland to the
brother and sister, with its glitter and fra
GRANGE, its noiseless service and garnished
viands-but though at a loss as to just which
knife, fork and glass they were to use, and
quite '.floored, " as Jamie would have said,
by the scented finger glasses and water
carafes, and the ices in odd, fanciful
shapes, Miss Smith noticed there was no
unseemly hurry, though both were 50
hungry; no offensive use of knife or fingers
only quietdecorum and modest shyness.
After they had returned to the library
and were seated cozily by the beautiful
fireplace, Miss Smith said gentlyc
Tell me, jamie (she had caught the
pretty nickname from his sister, show did
your father-gol Was it long SINGER
shading her eyes with fan as she spoke
eve don't know exactly, ma'am-I'll tell
you. You see mamma was sick long time
first, and papa took su0l care of her that
after she-went he got sick, too, and couldn't
work. He was an engraver, you know, and
the close work was very bad for him
Finally the doctors told him he must do
something different or he would die, but he
wasn't rich enough to take US and gt
travelling. So at last he rented two little
rooms and put us in care of the Huffstodts
(we'd lived in Jersey City before that, bui
he knew about them, and thought he'd liki
to have US with such good folks,) and pu
some money in the bank for us, and starte
with an expedition to South America-
something or other sent out by the Cover
ment, and he was going to engrave tie
pictures of their reports, you see. AftarhFI
had been gone awhile the Huffstodts moveo
to where we are now and the money began
to get low in the bank, and there didn't
any more letters come from papa; but that
didn't surprise US, because we knew he
was going away into the wilderness where
there weren't any post-offices. But one day
Mr.. Huffstodt brought in a paper to Celia
and me, and said "You poor children,
what will you do!n And there was the
notice of papa's DEATH. G.. Smith, of that
very eXpedition-and then we knew why we
eSidn't get the letters any more"
He stopped, with choke in his voice,
while the two Celias wept together.
$50 far from home-oh! my poor, poor
James," murmured the elder, clasping her
namesake closer; land what did you do
then, poor babies?"
80, the Huffstodts were very kind; and
after while he got me this place as mes
senger-boy, so that can pay for things my
self; and we're very comfortable"
"How long since you saw-that notice,
dear!n
about six months, and he was gone
nearly year before that"
They sat very quiet then, and the fire
bSrned lower, till only mass of Goals
glowed beneath the tiles, when a quick
ring at the door bell startled them all
An instant later the ubiqitous John--a
very interrogation point from head to foot
stood in the entrance
Miss Smith, there's two men here, and
one says he would like to see his children
fl"
''His children3n shriel1ed jamie and Celia,
in chorus. james !" sobbed Miss Smith,
while all three rushed into the hall.
For the next few minutes not even an in
Simultaneous photographer could have done
justice to the scene-the crazy children
clnGing to their father, the woman, with
clasped hands and wild questioning eyes,
standing in the background-till the words
from Jamie 40 papa! it is Miss Smith, your
cousin" caused the newcomer to bound
forward with cry of ''Celial My Celial"
and Ito the horror of john clasp his mis-
tress in an ardent embrace.
But even my poor description is not so
confused as the little group which tumul-
tuously entered the library then-laughing,
talking, crying, explaining, and protesting
with running fire of "Glorys! - from John
and ''Yahs ~ and ''Pless my souls ~ from
Mr. Huffstodt, who had led the father
hither.
When something like quiet was restored
the matter became simple enough, however.
Mr.. Smith had written whenever possible,
but failing in that remote region to receive
the childrens letter giving their change of
address, his missives had, of course, been
misdirected and unanswered, until, becom-
ing thoroughly alarmed at last, he had
thrown up his situation and started for
home, much delayed on the journey by
storms and an accident to the steamers
machinery.
Upon arriving in the city he had found
the Huffstodts by means of the directory
only to learn that his children had been
summoned in very strange and sudden
way to No. - or the avenue. AS the Huff
| stodts were already growing alarmed at
their prolonged absence, the kind, young
TGerman had gladly FASTENED with him to
their rescue-'only to find you, Celia, whom
| never expected to see again!''
He turned and clasped both her handg
while they stood-heart searching hearth
the glow of the dying fire. The room, the
inmates, were forgotten, and each saw a
pretty lawn, shaded by great oak tree,
and two figures-one a youth walking
slowly away, while the other slender girl,
with pointing hand and blazing eyes, said
sternly, 'Go!" Did that youth-the bearded
traveller of to-day-read the same fiat in
those eyes which now met his, or did their
tears, their softness, their wistful pleading
bid him "Stay!''
Achildish voice broke the eloquent silence,
and bridged the gulf of eighteen years:
"But, papa, who was the j. G. Smith that
did die!"
"O,"-the lover was a father once again,
though his voice had caught a new, exultant
tone as he answered, the was our photo
grapher. His first name was Jasper, and he
died of swamp fever, poor fellowi Celia,
are you glad it wasn't Is''-Faaaie &. Nem-
berry, IN Chicago Times.
- "